Headscarf row: summons to school Principal

The Alappuzha Chief Judicial Magistrate court on Saturday took cognizance of the case against Believers' Church English Medium School Principal Mary Jacinta, which alleged that she questioned and hurt religious sentiments by issuing a transfer certificate to a Muslim student for wearing a headscarf to school.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammed Wasim considered the statements given by the student, her parents, two independent witnesses, a mediaperson, Special Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police, the minutes of a meeting held by the District Collector to discuss the issue, and the transfer certificate and a rule book issued by the school before deciding to take cognizance of the case and to summon Ms. Jacinta before the court on July 31.

The case was filed by the student's father, Nazir Musaliar, after the Principal issued a transfer certificate to his daughter on April 26, noting that the certificate was being issued since a “mafta (headscarf) was not allowed” in the school.